Special Steels Oct08

International Nickel Study Group 6th-10th October 2008

Lisbon, Portugal

Special Steels

Speaker:Salvatore PinizzottoXida (Market Research) Ltd.

STATO DELL’ARTEDefinition

All steels are “SPECIAL” in some way, since even “ORDINARY” steel is a mixture of carbon and iron and the result of careful heat-treatment and forging.

However, the term “SPECIAL” (or in the US, SPECIALTY) steel usually defines those steels that contain elements other than carbon in sufficient amount to modify substantially some of their useful properties .

Usually SPECIAL steels contain alloying elements, thus the terms SPECIAL and ALLOY STEELS are often used interchangeably.

Special Steels : main types

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-ENGINEERING STEEL

PEngineering Steels

Bearing Steels

These steels often contain 1 percent carbon, 1.2 percent chromium, 0.25 percent nickel, and 0.25 percent molybdenum and are very hard after heat treatment.

Most important, however, they are extremely clean, having been purged of practically all inclusions by vacuum treatment ofthe liquid steel. Inclusions are very harmful in bearings because they create stress concentrations that result in low fatigue strength.

-Microalloyed Steels

The microalloyed steels, also known as high‐strength low‐alloy (HSLA) steels, are intermediate in composition between carbon steels, whose properties are controlled mainly by the amount of carbon they contain (usually less than 1 percent), and alloy steels.

Developed in the l960s and resurrected in the late 1970s to satisfy the need for weight savings through greater strength, the HSLA steels tend to be low in carbon with minute additions of titanium or vanadium, for example.

-Microalloyed Steels

They are considered to be quite competitive with aluminum substitutes for two reasons:

they are relatively inexpensive (steel sells for one‐half the price of aluminum on a per‐unit‐weight basis);

and very little change in fabrication and processing procedures is needed in switching from carbon steel to HSLA steel, whereas major changes are usually required in switching to aluminum.

-The European market for Engineering Steel

Total Market8000 kt

-Engineering Steel: main European markets

-Origin of different products by country

SEMIS

Wire Rods

-Origin of different products by country (continues)

BARS

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-TOOL STEEL

-Tool Steel

Tool steel refers to a variety of carbon and alloy steels that are particularly well‐suited to be made into tools.

Their suitability comes from their distinctive hardness, resistance to abrasion, their ability to hold a cutting edge, and/or their resistance to deformation at elevated temperatures (red‐hardness).

With a carbon content between 0.7% and 1.4%, tool steels are manufactured under carefully controlled conditions to produce the required quality.

-Tool Steel

The most important alloying elements are vanadium, chromium, nickel, tungsten, cobalt and molybdenum.

Tool steels have an average alloy content of 5% to 15%, but this figure can range up to 50% for high‐alloy steel.

-Tool Steel (continues)

The main users of tool steel are tool builders.

Tool builders construct a large range of industrial tools and forms for cutting, punching, milling or forming metals and plastics and supply these tools to a wide variety of manufacturers.

-Tool Steel (continues)

Total European production of tool steel is about 600, 000 tonnes.

European producers are facing strong competition from non European producers.

The strong European currency reduces thecompetitiviness of export and opens the door to new international players. Chinese tool steel producers show a constant growth of supplies into Europe as well as in North America.

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-END USE MARKETS

-Engineering steel : end-use markets

AutomotionHot forgingSpringsBall BearingsTrucks & Capital GoodsMechanical EngineeringEnergy

-Tool Steel (continues)

Main End‐use sectors

Automotive and automotive suppliersTool and machinery manufacturersAircraft manufacturersConsumers and electronics industriesWood and saw industriesTextile and Paper IndustriesPower GenerationOilfield generation and plant construction

Ball Bearings

-Energy

Electricity generation is predicted to grow globally in excess of 85% by 2030.

Electricity generation from fossil fuels will remain dominant.

Meeting policy targets will require a “portfolio” approach.

-Energy (continues)

Energy (continues) -

ordered

-Nuclear plant key components

Capacity and Demand for Heavy Nuclear Forgings (Kt)

Large pressure vesselsHeavy duty cooling pipesLarge Pump castings

-Automotive

Brake Hubs

Transmission gear

Connecting rods Constant velocity joint

Crankshaft

STAINLESS STEEL

Component Category

Components Free Cutting

Steel

Carbon steel for machine

structural use

Alloy Steel

BearingSteel

Engines CrankshaftsConnecting rodsCommon rail systems

XX

XX

X

Drive train Transmission gearsDifferential gear unitsCVT

XXX

Steering HubsConstant velocity jointSteering X

XX

X

X

Electrical Alternators X

Bearings Bearings X

Other Bolts, nutsHydraulic components X

X X

-Automotive (continues)

STAINLESS STEEL

Specialty steel are used for safety related parts in power trainand chassis.

Quality, therefore, is critically important.

Cost competitiviness and product development are key to profitability.

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-STAINLESS STEEL

-Stainless Steel: Emerging Fields

• Transport (flat – long – welded tubes)

• Building and Infrastructures(flat – long – welded tubes)

• Potable Water(flat – welded tubes)

• Waste Water Treatment(flat – welded tubes)

• Desalination(flat – welded tubes)

• Pulp and paper(welded tubes – castings)

Source: Centro Inox- Italian Stainless Steel Development Assn.

STR

UC

TU

RA

L U

SE

-The “Nido” project by Pinifarina

Centro Inox supported the project providing the

know‐how about the material and as go‐

between with SS producers

-Water Treatment Plant (Como)

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